Do I need braces or aligners?

Orthodontic recommendations for adults can feel surprising if you assumed braces were only for kids — it's worth understanding whether it's about appearance, function, or both.

Addresses crowding, spacing, or bite misalignment that can affect cleaning, chewing comfort, or jaw function — not only appearance.

Orthodontists and dentists assess crowding, spacing, bite alignment (how your upper and lower teeth meet), and whether misalignment is affecting cleaning or jaw comfort, not just how teeth look.

• Crowding that makes flossing and cleaning difficult
• A bite misalignment causing uneven wear or jaw discomfort
• Spacing or crowding that's primarily a cosmetic concern
• Preparation for another dental procedure, like an implant, that needs proper spacing first

• Clear aligners, for mild-to-moderate cases where discretion matters
• Traditional metal or ceramic braces, generally more effective for complex bite corrections
• No treatment, if the concern is purely cosmetic and you're comfortable as-is

• Aligners are removable and less visible, but require discipline to wear consistently (typically 20-22 hours/day)
• Traditional braces are fixed and often faster for complex corrections, but are more visible
• Untreated crowding can make some teeth harder to clean thoroughly over the years

• Requires consistent wear (aligners) or regular adjustment visits (braces) to work as planned
• Some complex bite issues aren't fully correctable with aligners alone
• Teeth can gradually shift back after treatment without a retainer

For purely cosmetic spacing, there's typically little urgency. For crowding that affects cleaning, or a bite misalignment causing uneven wear, delaying can allow those functional issues to continue or slowly worsen.

1. 01

   Evaluation

   X-rays, photos, and impressions or scans assess crowding, spacing, and bite alignment.

2. 02

   Treatment planning

   A specific plan and timeline is mapped out, with aligner trays or braces custom-fit to the plan.

3. 03

   Active treatment

   Regular adjustments (braces) or new aligner trays (typically every 1-2 weeks) gradually move teeth.

4. 04

   Retention

   Once treatment ends, a retainer maintains the new position long-term.

No real "recovery" — most people adjust to speaking and eating with braces or aligners within a week or two of each new adjustment.

Aligners and braces are often similarly priced overall, though this varies by case complexity and provider; ask for a full treatment-length quote, not just a starting price.